It was a thrill to hear him speak, but one of the best parts of the event was that no cellphones were allowed in. For several hours there were no annoying ring tones or text alerts. Without a device to stare into, people actually looked up, made eye contact, and chatted pleasantly to those in the next seat or while in the line for the bathrooms. It was truly the feeling of connectedness the Dalai Lama so passionately spoke of. Why can’t the same happen voluntarily during movies, concerts, or just walking down the street? We are more connected to the world, but more isolated than ever in our own neighborhoods.